Rovers Win Gillingham Thriller 4-2 at Prenton Park

Mark Ridgway reports on Tranmere's excellent 4-2 home win over Gillingham in Coca-Cola League One on Saturday afternoon thanks to a brace of goals from Ian Thomas-Moore and additional strikes from John Welsh and Terry Gornell in addition to two expertly taken goals from the visitors.

Tranmere R 4 - 2 Gillingham

   Thomas-Moore 5                            Weston 34

   Welsh 48                                        Barcham 54

   Gornell 73

   Thomas-Moore 90

Attendance - 5,590

In-form Gillingham arrived at Prenton Park hoping to add to their two wins so far this season but Rovers were equal to the task and ran out comfortable winners - eventually.

It was John Barnes's first home League game in charge of Rovers and it brought their first League win by a decent margin in the end.

The Tranmere team was barely changed from the side that beat Grimsby Town 4-0 in the Carling Cup in midweek with only one defensive change which saw the cup-tied Gavin Gunning return to the back four in place of Marlon Broomes who didn't feature in the matchday squad.

Charlie Barnett was named as a substitute following injury but new signing Michael Ricketts was not part of the squad with the Rovers starting eleven looked like this...

Daniels

Logan  Goodison Gunning Cresswell

Shuker Welsh McLaren Mahon

Curran Thomas-Moore

Subs: Collister, Taylor, Fraughan, Barnett, Edds, Gornell, McAughley

Rovers started in lively mood and Shuker volleyed just over within the first few minutes and the frantic pace continued and brought the first goal for the home side.

Curran sent Logan down the right and the on loan right-back beat his marker and crossed for Ian Thomas-Moore to nod in the opener, that with just five minutes on the clock.

Thomas-Moore again threatened soon after when he broke down the left and cut inside on his right but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper Julian.  Soon after that chance, Mahon set up Cresswell who drilled in a low cross which was cleared from almost the goal line.

Gillingham gradually came more into the game and started pressurising Tranmere with long spells of possession. They got their reward 34 minutes with an equaliser when Curtis Weston's shot from 25 yards found the bottom right corner and gave Daniels no chance.

Rovers then threatened again when Cresswell drilled a shot that was parried by Julian and the return cross was then headed onto the roof of the net by John Welsh.

Half Time: Tranmere Rovers 1 - 1 Gillingham

The first chance of the second half saw Rovers regain the lead when Logan 's throw-in found John Welsh who was one of several players making his home League debut and responded by producing a stunning volley from long range that looped over the keeper and in.

Again it didn't take long for the visitors to draw level as Andy Barcham ran down the left and cut inside before curling a right footed effort over Daniels and in from the edge of the box.

Rovers responded to being pegged back again by bringing on Terry Gornell for Craig Curran.  This proved to be an inspired decision from Barnes, as the young striker scored within four minutes of coming on.

Again Welsh did well on the edge of the box and it fell to Gornell who drilled in a low effort into the bottom right corner to give Rovers the lead for the third time.  Again it was a great goal, with four of the five goals so far coming from outside the area.

Rovers then brought on Gareth Edds to replace Alan Mahon and the substitute had a chance on 84 minutes when he headed over a Shuker cross.

Gillingham now had three strikers on the pitch and were pilling the pressure on Rovers, who were defending superbly, especially Ian Goodison, who was as calm as ever.

A Rovers counter attack resulted in Gornell slicing a shot wide after a quick Tranmere break but the win was wrapped up in Injury time when Ian Thomas-Moore headed in his second from a few yards out after good work from Logan down the right.

Half Time: Tranmere Rovers 4 - 2 Gillingham

Ian Goodison

As rock solid as ever, his presence was missed at Yeovil and today he was bossing the defence and keeping everyone together.  His tackles were always superbly timed and he dealt with the threatening Simeon Jackson with ease.